Courtois Marks 2026 on His Calendar and Confirms It, He Will Play for Another Team

Despite being constantly caught in the competitive whirlwind, Real Madrid remains focused on its future plans both in the short and long term. One of the most striking changes in the roadmap devised from the Valdebebas offices features Thibaut Courtois as the protagonist. The Belgian goalkeeper is clear about what to do with his professional career in the coming summers.

The information published by the newspaper As has revealed that Madrid's '1' would be preparing to return to the Belgian national team. The dismissal of Domenico Tedesco from that position, as well as his replacement by the veteran Rudi García, could make a change that seemed practically impossible until recently a reality.

The mentioned media outlet makes it clear that Courtois is eager to return to the call-ups to represent his country in upcoming international events, such as the next World Cup. That future is barred to him, at least until he can meet with Rudi García to assess his possible return to the Red Devils team.

Courtois would be waiting for the new Belgian coach to contact him to discuss this matter of great importance. It wouldn't be advisable to miss the opportunity to count on one of the best goalkeepers of the moment, especially when Madrid's '1' has hinted at his willingness to return immediately.

Return home?

But he will have to wait until Rudi García makes a decision. The withdrawal of Thibaut Courtois from the Belgian national team, always of a temporary nature, was a direct reply to the decisions made by the now former coach Domenico Tedesco. Besides those professional disagreements, both acknowledged having cultivated a personal enmity during the last moments they shared as coach and player.

"I have decided not to return to the Belgian national team under his leadership", wrote the Real Madrid goalkeeper on his social media last August. "My lack of trust in him wouldn't contribute to maintaining the necessary cordial atmosphere", the Belgian goalkeeper stated about the Italian coach.

Now that Tedesco is no longer in charge of the Belgian national team, Courtois has wasted no time in making himself available to Rudi García. As the newspaper As points out in its information, he would have done so unofficially while awaiting a meeting with him. Thus, the decision rests entirely with the veteran French coach.

Rudi García faces the dilemma of bringing back Thibaut Courtois or definitively sidelining one of the last members of Belgium's golden generation. Besides Courtois himself, several members of that generation like Kevin de Bruyne or Axel Witsel are still active... with whom he could meet very soon to plan the 2026 United States World Cup.